January 30th, 2012 — Coin Collecting, Half Dime, Rare Coins, US Coins

You might think a half dime is simply a modern nickel. But half dimes were actually silver coins worth 5 cents that were minted before the coins that eventually became our modern nickels. They were authorized in 1792, much smaller than the dimes of the time and much thinner, giving them the actual appearance of being almost half a dime. When lobbyists fought to have nickel included in the creation of new coins in the 1860s, the new three- and five-cent coins pushed out the older silver coins so the original half dimes were last minted in 1873.
The US half dime was minted from 1794 to 1873, and was one of the original coins minted in the United States. The first design is known as the Flowing Hair design because of the Liberty’s flowing hair, but was only struck for 2 years before being changed to the Draped Bust, Small Eagle design. This design also lasted for only 2 years, before half dime minting stopped and wasn’t resumed against until 1800. This design was known as the Large Eagle design, with the Great Seal of the United States appearing on the reverse of the coin. These were struck until 1805, and then no more were minted until 1829.
The half dime that returned in 1829 now bore the words “five cents” instead of half dime. The design appearing on this coin lasted until 1837, when a Seated Liberty design once again bearing the words half dime was minted. New minting in 1837 saw the silver content lessen, though the coins remained the same size. In 1840 the design was changed to include drapery and stars, and wasn’t changed again significantly after that. After the Civil War in 1866, nickel-based 5-cent coins were circulated at the same time as silver half dimes but 1873 saw the last half dimes minted to make way for the 5-cent coins.
Of all the half dimes available today, the 1802 Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle is one of the most rare and collectible. Only a little over 13,000 of them were struck, but only about 16 are known to exist today. The half dime is still an interesting conversation piece, aside from its collector and real-world value.
Because the silver content of the half dime dropped long before minting stopped, people tended to try to acquire the earlier half dimes so more of the newer coins were struck to replace them. The most valuable coins are the earlier ones with higher silver content, though some were actually minted without the name of the country because of a die problem, and these are valuable novelties for coin collectors.
The half dime is a fairly rare coin so the best places to find one in good condition are places like eBay where a huge variety of sellers can present their items. The best way to find the value of a coin is to consult a coin guide, and compare that to the most recent information you can find online.
Originally posted 2008-12-07 14:00:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 24th, 2012 — 1902 Barber Dime, Coin Collecting, Rare Coins, US Coins

The value of a 1902 Barber dime varies, depending mostly on the condition of the dime. While the face value may be only 10 cents, they’re often worth several dollars—sometimes hundreds of dollars. The best way to determine the value of your Barber dime is to consult an up to date coin value guide. The best way to find the most current information is by looking on numismatic websites and auction sites where these dimes are available to see the most recent pricing on them.
The history of the dime in general goes back to 1796, with the front of the coin bearing a Liberty head and the reverse featuring an eagle. The dime is the smallest US coin, and its appearance has changed many times over the years. A 1902 Barber dime is so named because it was a coin designed by Charles E. Barber. While the earliest dimes changed many times, our current dime has been the same since 1946. Our current design is smaller than the original dime, and the materials used today are different, as well.
The first coins representing a tenth of a dollar or ten cents were actually called dismes, minted in 1792, but weren’t circulated. The first actual dimes appeared in 1796 and are referred to by numismatics today as the Draped Bust dime. These coins bore no value on them anywhere, unlike today’s dimes which clearly say they’re worth 10 cents. In 1809 the design was changed to what’s now known as the Capped Bust dime, which bore the marking 10C on the reverse. Neither of these early dimes was minted each year they were available, but a dime has been minted almost every year without fail since 1827. The Barber dime appeared in 1892, with the 1902 Barber dime representing only one year of the design’s 24-year history, ending in 1916. The previous design, though, was minted far longer. The Seated Liberty design debuted in 1837 and was minted for 54 years, until the Barber dime took its place. The only dime that has been minted longer is the Roosevelt dime that has now been minted for 62 years.
The 1902 Barber dime isn’t the most valuable dime available of its design. The 1894-S has been known to go for more than one million dollars at auction—the highest amount ever drawn for a single dime—because only 24 of these particular coins were struck, and of those, only 9 still exist as far as collectors and the US Treasury are aware.
Still, the 1902 Barber dime carries much more than the value of 10 cents. The coins have silver content, so even a coin worn practically smooth carries scrap silver value. A common method in determining the value of this coin is how clear the inscription of “Liberty” is on Lady Liberty’s headband on the front of the coin. The less worn and more distinct the inscription, the more valuable the coin. Proofs and circulated coins alike are easily found on eBay.
Originally posted 2008-12-06 05:00:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 7th, 2012 — 1925 Coin Penny, Coin Collecting, Rare Coins, US Coins, Wheat Penny

Probably one of the easiest coins to acquire for a coin collection is the wheat penny. This coin was a United States penny minted from 1909 to 1958. The coin goes by many names, including the Lincoln Wheat Cent and Wheatie, and was worth 1 cent at the time it was minted. While few are worth more than that today, some uncirculated mintings have gone for thousands of dollars at auction.
Most of us who had grandparents or parents who kept pennies in jars have been able to search through those coins and find at least one wheat penny or two. The front of the penny looks indistinguishable, at first glance at least, from the pennies minted today because they still bear the bust of Lincoln on the front (or obverse) side of the coin. The back of course is different, because the two wheat stalks that were on the reverse of the wheat penny were replaced with the Lincoln memorial in 1959.
The change in the reverse design, however, isn’t the only different between the wheat penny and the modern penny. And there are even variations among wheat pennies, depending on the year the penny was minted. Some of the wheat pennies produced in the beginning featured the initials of the sculptor, Victor David Brenner, on the reverse side of the coin below the wheat stalks.
This was a cause of controversy, however, and in 1918 the initials VDB were moved to the front of the coin. You must look very closely at a wheat penny from those early years and you’ll see the tiny initials on the bottom of Lincoln’s bust, below his shoulder. The coins produced before the change was made in California are more valuable than most other types of these pennies, because less than half a million were produced by that mint before the public complained enough about the prominent initial display to have it changed.
These early pennies are called “VDB” cents due to the placement of the initials. If you happen to find a 1909 wheat penny with those initials on the back below the wheat stalks that was minted in San Francisco, California, even if the coin is in poor condition, it could be worth hundreds of dollars. Mint coins with that configuration can go for much, much more. VDB cents minted in Philadelphia hold much less value, because more were produced. The 1914-D coins are also typically quite valuable.
A wheat penny with a minting error can also be valuable, such as the 1922 penny that looks plain because the die was full and couldn’t imprint the coin, and one produced in 1955 which appears minted twice, known as the doubled die coin.
If you can find lots of wheat pennies for very little money, you might enjoy looking for these different variations. Someone without an interest in the wheat penny who puts several up for auction in a lot might not even be aware that they’re selling a gem.
Originally posted 2008-11-17 14:00:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 5th, 2011 — Coin Collecting, paper money
There are plenty of different options available for anyone who is thinking about getting into collecting paper money and coins. While there are some people who try to have well-rounded collections and collect both types of currency, there are others who are simply looking to stick with one side of money collecting. Those who are new to money collecting are often stuck wondering which type of money collecting is right for their wants and needs. The only way to truly understand which is best is to actually get into collecting – this information will simply help individuals to start in a direction that is more likely to meet their needs.
Paper Money
The argument for paper money is that it is more interesting than coin money. There are plenty of different variations of paper money around the world. While old paper money is interesting, new paper money is intriguing and new. European countries tend to make their paper currency incredibly colorful and vivid, with different pieces of artwork gracing both the front and back of the bills. Those who are more into beauty are going to lean toward paper money.
Paper money is also more rare than simple coins, in terms of old paper money. Paper money is harder to care for and easier to damage. There are simply less of the older paper monies floating around than older coins. The thought of having to hunt after something rare is what is intriguing for many who decide to get into this particular form of currency collection.
Coins
Coin collecting is something that helps to bring history back to the forefront. Coin money lasts longer than paper money, making it a solid choice for anyone who wants to actually get into the history of collecting. While there are rare coins, older coins are les rare than older paper money. This makes collecting somewhat easier while still allowing for the thrill of the chase. Coins also have their own artistic value – no one will argue against the fact that mercury head dimes and double-eagle $20 coins are some of the most beautiful pieces of money ever created. Coin collecting may be the more popular form of collecting, but for good reason – many find a home with coin collecting that would be impossible with the rarity involved in paper money collecting.
There are some who are going to like the allure and rarity of collecting paper money. There are others who like the variety and depth of coin collecting. You simply need to get our hands dirty and actually get into collecting money to understand which form of collecting is right for you. You may find that one or the other is right for you, or that you want to collect both. Either way, this information will help you to get started in the world of collecting the currency of the world both past and present.
Photo Credits: cbcastro
Originally posted 2010-12-06 15:19:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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October 7th, 2011 — Ancient Coins, Coin Collecting, Gold, Gold Coins, Gold Eagle Coins, Rare Coins
Gold is one of the most popular substances in the world, and rare gold coins are highly sought out by collectors, not just for the precious gold content, but because of the rarity of the coins and the designs themselves. How do you know if a gold coin is actually rare, or just old? First of all, if you’re shopping in online auctions, which is actually a good place to find coins, decide that you won’t get too excited by every auction that claims its coins are rare.
“Rare” is actually a flash-word in online auctions, designed to get people to view the auction. If you browse the site a while, you’ll find items listed as “rare” and “hard-to-find” that you can probably purchase anywhere with very little effort. This practice has made the word rare almost meaningless on eBay and other online sites. So to find truly rare gold coins, you’ll need to do a little research on the coin that’s offered in the auction, as well as into the seller’s past auctions.
Have a look at the seller’s feedback. Does every auction represented there shout “Rare!” from the rooftops? Also, you can search on the specific coin that’s offered to see which others sellers offer it and what they have to say about it. Then you’ll want to research the coin online to find whether its truly rare, or the use of the word was just an advertising tactic. Truly rare gold coins won’t be found in hundreds or sometimes even dozens of auctions at one time, because of their rarity.
Even reputable online shops that deal in gold coins will exaggerate the use of the word “rare.” If you search on “rare gold coins,” for instance, you’ll come up with hundreds of dealers that don’t really happen to have any rare gold coins for sale, but newly released ones. They’ve simply used “rare” as keyword to rank higher in the search engines when someone’s looking for a rare coin, in the hopes of attracting that customer’s business with their new coin selection.
Your own interest in rare gold coins and a little time spent searching can help you find the right coins. You’ll also get a good idea of the price you should pay for one, judging by the median amount charged by many different dealers. Also do a search on eBay for closed auctions that featured that item, and you’ll see about how much you might end up paying if you should purchase from an auction.
Some of the most rare gold coins from the United States were minted before 1933. Liberty gold coins minted throughout the 19th century, and the Saint-Gaudens gold coins and Indian gold coins minted from the early 1900s to 1933, are some of the best rare coins available today. They’re prized, not just for their gold content and their rarity, but their beautiful designs, with the Saint-Gaudens considered one of the most beautiful American coins minted to date.
The business of buying and selling gold can be profitable, and is one you might be interested in getting into.
Originally posted 2008-11-14 05:34:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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